Illuminated sign



Jan. 13, 1942. w. e. HUBER ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed June 19, 1939 PatentedJan. 13, 1942 ILLUMINATED SIGN William G. Huber, Hopkins, Minn, assignorto The Photoplating Company,

Minneapolis,

Minn, acorporation of Minnesota Application'June 19, 1939, Serial No.279,777

3 Claims.

This invention relates to luminous signs, and more specifically to aconstruction, some luminous features of which simulatein appearance. theefiects produced from that class of signs known as neon which employtubes containing rarified gases.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a novel andattractive sign having certain luminous efiects simulating neon tubesand capable of manufacture at relatively low cost.

It is a further object to provide a sign of the class above referred to,wherein a luminous display panel may be readily replaced to change copy,and wherein the sign is elfective and ornate when not illuminated.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a luminous sign of simpleand inexpensive construction utilizing an integral panel constructed oftransparent material such as glass and having portions of said panelcoated or otherwise treated to be rendered relatively opaque, whileleaving display portions which are coloredto represent characters ordisplay features, and having also certain narrow portions of the glassor other material left transparent or highly translucent to emit themaximum amount of light, whereby colored rods or strips may besuperimposed over said narrow, transparent portions to refract the lightemitted and simulate the appearance of neon tubes when the sign isilluminated.

Another object is the provision in such a structure of an adjustablemounting for the said glass rods or strips to enagle the same to bedisposed, regardless of the height at which the sign is mounted, so thatlight will be refracted in line with the eyes of an observer.

These and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from thefollowing description made in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views, and in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary-horizontal section on a somewhat larger scale,taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig, 3,showingthe adjustable mounting for the refractive rod;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a corner of one of the panels usedwith my construction, and

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Fig. 6 is a view similar'to Fig. 4, showing a somewhat differentconstruction of refractive rod which may be used.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is a compact luminous signwell adapted to inside store use on counters, shelves and the like,although it will, of course, be understood that the principles of myinvention are applicable to signs of all types. a

The sign illustrated includes a reflector casing or shell I, as shown,of'semi-cylindrical shape having a central supporting leg 8 at the rearthereof and a pair of panel receiving and supporting elements 9 securedto the lower forward edge of the casing. A pair of upstanding ears H1may, if desired, be secured to the ends la of casing I at the topthereof to permit-the sign to-be suspended or secured by flexiblemembers. As shown, electrical sockets H are mounted on the ends 1a ofthe casing and-electrically connected with an electrical service cord,not shown. Electric lamp bulbs [2 are mounted in the socketsand disposedsymmetrically within the interior of the casing I. v

I provide a specially constructed integral sign panel suitably mountedat the front of the shell or casing I and which in cooperation with.refractory characters or elements later to be described and theemission of light, produces luminous efiects resembling those of thevapor tube signs known as neon. My sign panel I3 is constructed from aplate of transparent material such as glass, transparent Ce1luloid,.orthe like, and has the body portion I311 thereof coated or otherwiseconstructed to render that portion relatively opaque, .although notnecessarily completely opaque as in some instances some slighttransmission is desirable. A coating l4 greatly exaggerated in thicknessin Figs. 3 and l and applied by screenin photolithographor other methodmaybe utilized to provide the relatively opaque background or body,although any other method may be used. Display symbols or characterssuch as the letters Ma, are left uncovered by the opaque coating [4,andcoatings of colored translucent material are printed or paintedacross such portions, permitting these characters. and symbols toberendered conspicuous and luminous when the lamps l2 are illuminatedwithin the casing. My panel I3 is further provided with uncoated orthinly coated, highly translucent, narrow portions [31) which may be inthe form of narrow straight zones, curves or characters, and throughwhich bright light is emitted. The uncoated or highly translucentportions or zones 13b may be deflned by two completely opaque marginalzones or portions I30, formed preferably by heavy coatings andconcentrating the intensity of light through portions I3b.

Superimposed over the narrow transparent portions or zones I3b and onthe outer vertical wall of the panel I3 are rods or strips I5 preferablycolored and constructed of material such as solid colored glass orcolored plastics having high refractory qualities. The rods or strips I5are of slightly greater width or diameter than the narrow zones I31) andare disposed either in very close relation to the outer side of thepanel or flush against the panel and the narrow zones, as clearly shownin the drawing. It is, of course,

to be understood that tubes constructed of colored glass or uncoloredtransparent tubes or rods brightly coated with colored material may beused in place of the solid rods, all within the scope of my invention. r

The refractive rods I5 in the embodiment shown in addition to having theimportant luminous functions previously described also act incooperation with adjustable brackets as means for detachably retainingthe panel I3 in proper operative position at the front of the reflectorcasing I. In the embodiment shown two straight rods I5 are usedextending horizontally across the outer side of th panel adjacent thetop and bottom and having thimbles I6 slipped over the outer endsthereof, which thimbles are connected by bent arms or brackets I! withthe ends Ia of the reflector casing. It will be noted that connection ofthe bracket I1 is made on a nutted pivot bolt I8 in order that thebrackets and consequently the ends of the rods may be adjusted slightlyto shift the rods vertically in order that they may be properly set withrespect to the narrow, transparent zones I327 of the panel to causerefraction of light to be on the line of vision of the observers,regardless of the height at which the sign is mounted. Thus, if the signis disposed above the level of the observers eyes, rods I5 will belowered slightly to cause proper refraction for that level. If the signis disposed lower than the eyes, the rods willbe slightly raisedaccordingly. There is, of course, suflicient friction between thebrackets I1 and ends of the casing to retain the rods in an adjustedposition.

It will further be noted that the adjustable brackets or arms I! havetheir outer portions offset, leaving a perpendicular portion disposedparallel to the thimble I 6 which is covered with a rubber or othercompressible cushioning sleeve Ila, this sleeve engaging the back of thepanel while the front of the panel is guided by the thimble I6 or therods themselves in the form shown in Fig. 6. Thus, from an inspection ofthe drawing, particularly Fig. 2, it will be apparent that the removablepanels I3 may be slidably received between the, rods and the cushioningsleeve IIa in the angulated portions of brackets II.

In Fig. 6, instead of the cheaper solid rods of circular cross section,a rod having a flatted surface which is disposed flush against the panelis utilized. I

In Fig. 5 a fragment of a panel having a background I3a is shown, thisbackground being relatively opaque but permitting transmission of somelight. Here it is desirable to define the uncoated narrow zone I3b bytwo completely opaque parallel zones I3c.

It will, of course, be understood that not only straight rods but stripsor rods curved in the shape of figures, letters or other emblems may beutilized in cooperation with a source of light and transparent narrowlight omitting sections of the panel, all within the scope of myinvention. The sign, it will be noted, has an attractive appearance whennot illuminated, the characters being readily visible on the panel, andthe colored glass rods being ornate.

With neon signs, of course, the glass tubing and colorless, inert gascontained therein certainly could not be considered ornamental.

My sign, when illuminated, gives the general luminous effect through therefraction in the glass rods of ,neon signs, although it does not giveas bright or intense a light. The intensity of the light from "neonsigns has been objected to, particularly in signs used within buildings.

My signs have the further advantage, of course, of great economy ascontrasted with neon, does not require the transformers, switches andother expensive equipment necessitated in neon" construction.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a luminous sign, a reflector casing hav ing an open front andhaving a source of light therein, a sign panel mounted across the frontof said casing and having relatively opaque portions and having anarrow, transparent portion defined by a part of said opaque portion foremitting concentrated light through said panel, a

colored rod having refractive properties shaped to conform to saidtransparent panel portion, brackets secured to the front portion of saidcasing having attachment elements at their outer ends for engaging saidrod to support the same in substantial alignment with and in front ofsaid narrow transparent display portion, said brackets includingswingably adjustable arms, and means for clamping said arms in variousangularly adjusted positions to vary slightly the superimposed positionof said rod relative to said narrow transparent portion.

2. In a luminous sign, a reflector casing having an open front andprovided with a conventional electric lamp therein, a removable signpanel mounted across the front of said casing and constructed from anintegral piece of transparent material having refractive qualities, saidpanel having the greater portion of one surface covered with relativelyopaque material, leaving however display characters, said displaycharacters being covered at one side of said panel with translucentcoloring material, said panel further having a narrow portion thereofuncovered and transparent to emit light rays from within said casing, acolored translucent rod having refractive properties shaped to conformin shape to said narrow transparent portion of said panel, and meansconnected with the front portion of said casing for supporting said rodin alignment with said narrow transparent portion of said panel andsuperimposed outwardly thereover and in front thereof to cause lightemitted through said portion to be refracted by said rod and to passtherethrough, illuminating said rod.

3. In a luminous sign, a reflector casing having an open front andprovided with a source of light therein, a pair of widely spaced,translucent rods disposed forwardly of said reflector casing andsubstantially lying in a plane extendand means for engaging the rear ofsaid panel to prevent rearward displacement thereof, said panel beingslidable between said means and said rods for removal or replacement,said panel hav- 5 ing transparent portions conforming in shape to anddisposed directly behind said rods for emission of light to said rodsfrom said casing whereby said rods will be illuminated.

- WILLIAM G. HUBER.

